End of Year 8-Bit Newsletter, Volume 4

A look back at 2023 and whats just over the horizon for 2024!

Dec 14, 2023

Greetings fellow party people!

As I write this, I’m gearing up for my first international trip of the year. I’m headed to Ireland this Friday to see my good mate Brian get married, and to frolic around Wales for a wee bit. I’m only gone for two weeks, but I’m very excited to see old friends and walk down new streets.

It’s been six years since I’ve seen Brian. It’s been so long that I didn’t have a mustache the last time we saw each other in person (See photo evidence below). After watching my travel brother tie the knot, after drinking 100 Guinness with him, after “a big sing-song” at a historic pub the night after the wedding (his very Irish words, not mine), I’m going to ferry over to Liverpool, then pop down to Wales.

I’m excited about the Wales part of the trip as well. For one, it’s my first new country in a while. Also, I just recently learned that my heritage is mostly Welsh. My brother told me. I trust him. I trust Welsh people. I also really like that their national animal is a dragon. That’s pretty rock and roll.

I don’t like that I’ll be missing the annual boys’ trip, breaking my streak of never missing it in 15 years, but new adventures abound.

Raaarrrrrr!!! Photo by balesphotography on Unsplash

Alright, let’s take a look back at this year, and also check in on what’s coming up in the first half of 2024!

8-Bit Newsletter’s name and format are an homage to the ugly but utilitarian roots of the Not That You Asked Newsletter which I used to send out on Gmail. (Not that you asked…)

Trav Shares

Since the last 8-bit newsletter, I turned 40. As you can imagine, I had some thoughts on the milestone so I decided to write a reflection about it. It’s certainly one of the better things I’ve written since the book came out.

I published a poem for the first time… ever. It’s not my typical writing style, but I love where I live, and Puerto Escondido inspired me to write a little love poem.
I just released my first single since starting to write new music these past couple of years. I’m grateful to Puerto for a lot of things, and one big one is that it’s given me a real “musician chapter” of my life. One Life to Live is available to spin on all platforms, and my first EP is following behind early next year! Give your boy some spins!
- I recently added a music page to my website for the occasion!

I’ve seen two amazing films about swimming recently. I’d highly recommend both Nyad and The Deepest Breath. Both stuck with me for weeks after the credits rolled.
If you still haven’t—read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Thank me later. I miss the world that the book puts you in. I still think about it often and it’s been months since I finished it.
Juvi and Manny Fresh did an incredible Tiny Desk performance, and watching it, I felt like I was back at homecoming sophomore year of high school. Post Malone’s Tiny Desk was amazing as well if you missed it.
I put NTAA up on a HUGE HOLIDAY SALE! $9.99 is the cheapest the paperback will ever be (I barely make $1 a book at this price), so if you still haven’t read it or need a last-minute gift idea, take advantage!

What’s Coming in 2024!

I’ll be putting out a review of my year of reading on my Medium at the start of next year! Stay tuned for my top reccos out of the 20+ books I read this year.

Big Stretch Pre-Save Link available NOW!

I made an album! It’s seven songs, written by me, produced by Matias Fages, mixed by Nico (together they make PFG productions), and recorded with the help of some of Puerto’s very best musicians. Massive shoutout to Pelvis Escondido (aka. my good bud Davey), Carl Cain, Pech, Conra, Maxi, Juan, and OsabDaGad. What an absolute crew of players. The record wouldn’t be close to as good without their unique contributions. Thank you, banda!

Learn more about the music here. Pre-save with the link above.

Sobreluna | Coliving & Coworking

Our dream coliving coworking project continues to develop here in Puerto Escondido! We just shared some info about the progress and our beautiful updated slide deck on Instagram, and our mate Jerry at Nix Media is currently working on another fun piece of content for y’all to “meet the builders.” Follow along on our Sobreluna Instagram to make sure you catch it!

Reach out if you’re curious to learn more and we can send you that entire updated deck!

Bob King Memorial Advice Section:

From the very end of a long thank you post about my EP—Big Stretch:

I started telling myself at some point during my 30s that I wanted to put music out in the world before I turned 40. Setting that entirely arbitrary goal is a big part of why I finally got it together and made it happen this year. It’s also largely because I found Matias, who was the perfect partner to collaborate with on bringing these songs to their most elevated forms. You’re the best, dude. Basically, if you want to chase a big dream, give yourself some goal posts off in the distance and find the right people to help you get there.

That rough type of “do this before that” planning has helped me accomplish some pretty cool stuff in my 40 years on this space rock. I highly recommend trying to establish your goal on a very specific timeline if you can’t find the motivation or means to pursue a big dream.